A Sidewalk Artist

The day shone brightly on the people enjoying the last days of summer at the Toronto Buskerfest in 2013. The smell of food wafted in the air accompanied by the sounds of music and chatter. The art student, Marc, was excited to be one of the few picked to participate in the festival. His excitement came not from the potential to make a few coins, but from his knowledge that people would stop to admire his work. His dream was to be an artist, to make his living from it. And what he desired most was that people would stop to admire his work, that they would talk about it, and that he would eventually sell paintings to be hung up on walls in people’s homes.

He enjoyed the feel of the sun’s rays beating down on his shoulders. The warmth would not last for much longer as September was nearing as well as the cooler days that came with it. His hand stroked the tarmac with a piece of chalk, adding some colour to his creation. The sound of the chalk and the murmurings of those who watched him lulled him into what he called his artistic zone. The simple strokes of the chalk on the tarmac gave him a sense of peace. This was why he loved art so much: it was only when he was creating that he felt a sense of peace invade him.

He glanced at what he was creating. He knew he was getting better at his technique and welcomed September for the lessons he would have with his teachers this year. He was moving into his final year – and then he would move out into the world to try and make a living.

He knew that working as an artist would not be easy. He was lucky, though, in that he had parents who supported him in his dream. In the meantime, he would continue enjoy the sun on this last weekend before school began; and he would continue to enjoy the admiration of those who stopped to look at his work.

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33 thoughts on “A Sidewalk Artist”

I’m always amazed by street artists. I often wonder what their daily lives entail. Do they work at some boring office job to make ends meet, eagerly awaiting the end of their shift so that they can return to their passion?

We spoke to one once. What he was doing was trying to drum up some business – he painted/drew portraits for people. Quite a number of passersby were taking his card. And I think the coins people dropped in his hat would buy him lunch.

Yes, I love to see street artists at work, and more often than not, give them a donation. They put so much effort into these ‘temporary’ works of art. “The girl with the earring’ was one of the first real paintings my sister did, and it was an amazing copy. 🙂

absolutely amazing! I have yet to see an artist that does art with sidewalk chalk. I would probably watch for hours if I did because all the pictures I see of it are absolutely amazing! Most street artists (of any kind, drawing, painting etc) I have encountered are very talented.

I always stop, of course, I have great respect considering their capability to put the focus on a painting many hours! Thank you, Colline, for introducing this artist! Also I stop and give money to every sidewalk guitarist…
greetings by

P.S.:
society gives not enough attention to artists!
good luck for your own crafting projects!